Orange County NC Website
11 ` <br /> 1 Todd Orr spoke against the plan to rezone the area north of Old NC 10 and south of the <br /> 2 railroad to ECE-1. It is inconsistent with the current residential character or undeveloped character of <br /> 3 this area. He said that this area is proposed by Durham to be low-density residential. He does not <br /> 4 understand why Orange County would be proposing a more intense development of that area. <br /> 5 Chris Kelsey said that the maps are very confusing. He suggested that the maps be clearer. <br /> 6 He said that he moved into Orange County to be in a more rural environment. He suggested limiting <br /> 7 the amount of industry. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 Commissioner McKee asked for an answer to a question about forced hookups to water and <br /> 10 sewer. Craig Benedict said that no lines would be extended to specific properties in the residential <br /> 11 neighborhoods. There will be a policy similar to the City of Durham's sewer policy. <br /> 12 John Roberts said that several people mentioned annexation as a concern. He said that <br /> 13 annexation is not a County function. He said that the General Assembly has made annexation a little <br /> 14 more difficult for cities to do involuntarily. Cities now have to provide notice to counties when they <br /> 15 cross county lines. Property owners do have the ability to some extent block involuntary annexation. <br /> 16 For the most part, cities will only annex on a voluntary process. <br /> 17 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the western portion of what is being proposed beyond where <br /> 18 it was recommended by the Eno EDD group. <br /> 19 Craig Benedict said that the western portion was not within the original Eno Economic <br /> 20 Development boundary. When the Durham interlocal agreement was brought forward, it was found <br /> 21 that there was an urban growth boundary outside of the Eno and it was suggested to bring forth land <br /> 22 use plan amendments to backfill the urban growth boundary. <br /> 23 Commissioner Jacobs said that last week when the Board considered the advertisement for <br /> 24 this public hearing, he specifically asked if this exactly followed what the Eno EDD Work Group <br /> 25 recommended and Craig Benedict said yes. He said that this is, in fact, not true, but it is an <br /> 26 amplification to match what Durham put on the map of Orange County. It is not what the EDD worts <br /> 27 group recommended to the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> 28 Craig Benedict said that aspects within that Eno Economic Development zone, especially <br /> 29 around Whispering Pines, were within the district. That part is correct. There were areas outside of <br /> 30 that, and if he was not as clear, then he apologizes. <br /> 31 Commissioner Jacobs said that he started on the Planning Board in 1985 and this is one of <br /> 32 the most poorly presented proposals that he has seen. There was a small area plan in which the <br /> 33 Board of County Commissioners had no presentation and members of the public had to bring it up at <br /> 34 the community meeting. There is still no copy. The maps are very confusing. There was not one <br /> 35 word mentioned by staff about environmental impacts. There was not one word mentioned by staff <br /> 36 about rural character impacts. There was barely a mention of neighborhood impacts. He said that <br /> 37 this is a County where these are the values (applause). He does support economic development <br /> 38 and he has worked on virtually all of the small area plans, but to rush to do something without doing it <br /> 39 thoroughly and openly is a mistake. He suggested getting some written responses from Durham <br /> 40 about what happens when the water line crosses individual properties. All of the issues of <br /> 41 annexation need to be in writing. He wants to be honest with people that they will be in the City of <br /> 42 Durham at some point. <br />